The characters in Karl May's famous 'Winnetou' series

Many in Germany will recognize this photo. Generations of young Germans have devoured the Winnetou novels, in which German engineer Karl and the Apache chief Winnetou go from archenemies to blood brothers. In Germany, kids who played cowboy and Indian called themselves Winnetou and Old Shatterhand. The stories are more of a modern fairytale than about the lives of Native Americans.

For over 50 years, French actor Pierre Brice, who passed away in 2015, was the face of Winnetou. He not only played the Apache chief in the successful films made in the 1960s, but also on German stages. It was the role of his life. Will a new actor be able to win over German audiences like Pierre Brice did?

The new Winnetou actor Nik Xhelilaj has at least two things in common with Pierre Brice: good looks and the fact that neither actor had heard of Winnetou when they were offered the role. Famous in his home country, Xhelilaj received the European Shooting Star award in 2011 for his film "The Albanian." In addition to Albanian, the "new Winnetou" speaks Turkish, English, Italian and German.

As Winnetou's blood brother, Old Shatterhand is accepted into the Apache tribe. In the original series he was played by American actor Lex Barker (1919-1973), also known for his performance as Tarzan. Old Shatterhand's real name is Karl. Once an engineer in Germany, he earned his nickname thanks to his powerful right hook, which will throw any opponent to the ground.

Winnetou calls his blood brother "Charlie," played in the new film by Wotan Wilke Möhring. In Germany, Möhring is known for his role as a detective in the cult TV crime series "Tatort." But he didn't play in the one "Tatort" episode from 1999 that had to do with Winnetou, when a watchman in the Karl May Museum was struck with a tomahawk.

The Winnetou story was the creation of author Karl May. Old Shatterhand narrates the stories, in which he dreams himself out of his dismal reality, serving a prison sentence for fraud. Karl May only knew the Wild West from books, and his first Winnetou story was published in 1875. Old Shatterhand's dreams even took him as far as Asia, where he was called Kara Ben Nemsi.

Nscho-tschi is Winnetou's sister. In the new film, she is the Apache's self-confident shaman. Mexican actress Iazua Larios follows in the footsteps of French star Marie Versini in the role. After Old Shatterhand is wounded and imprisoned by the Apaches, Nscho-tschi nurses to health. The new film develops their romance a bit more than in the books and the old film.

Intschu-tschuna is Winnetou's and Nscho-tischi's father. The German-Serbian actor Gojko Mitic appeared in bit parts in the 1960s films. At that time, his first name was adapted into German as Georg. Mitic also played the equivalent to Winnetou - the Indian chief - in similar films produced in East Germany.

Of course a film like this also needs a bad guy. Mario Adorf played the bandit Santer in the old version and makes a reappearance in the new one over 50 years later. Every child in Germany knows him as the murderer of Winnetou's sister (in the book, he also assassinates their father). Adorf is best known for his performance in the Oscar-winning film "The Tin Drum" of 1979.

In the book, the nasty drinker murders Klekih Petra, a white man who lives with the Apaches, and is sentenced to death. The execution was a memorable moment for everyone who listened to the 1970s audio version. The new film spares the Christmas viewers the scene - and gives the bad guy a first name for the first time: Joseph.

Sam Hawkens (Milan Peschel) is Old Shatterhand's eccentric mentor and helps the inexperienced protagonist out in the Wild West. His favorite expression is: "If I'm not mistaken…" But he often is mistaken, which provides plenty of comical moments. Like Old Shatterhand, Hawkens comes from Saxony and wears a wig because he was once scalped.

Blood brothers brushing their teeth together? This scene wouldn't have made it into Karl May's books, but it did into the 2001 parody "Schuh des Manitu" (Manitou's Shoe). The comedy was made by and starred Michael "Bully" Herbig, who poked fun at the Winnetou myth. It became one of Germany's most popular films and is definitely worth watching.